FREE TRADE PACT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 29

FREE TRADE PACT

Negotiations Since 1961 fFrom Our Otcn Reporter) HANMER SPRINGS. Oct. 11. Forest products were put forward as early as 1961 by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) as the sole items in a free trade area agreement between Australia and New Zealand, the Under-Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Mr L: R Adams-Schneider) told the New Zealand Timber Merchants’ Federation at its ji bilee annual con»'''>- l n ce at Hanmer Springs today. “Other items, representing the bulk of trade between the two countries, were suggested by the Australian Minister (Mr J. McEwen) later,” Mr Adams-Schneider said. “And then we were in business—with the officials of both countries undertaking a comprehensive study of the subject.” This had led to the establishment of a joint consultative council on forest products, with the objective of achieving mutual beneficial expansion of trade on the basis of the most efficient use of resources. “1 would, with humility, suggest that history may well regard this agreement as one of the most positive steps in external trade undertaken by any New Zealand government in this century,” Mr Adams-Schneider said. “I believe it will have the strong support of the country as a whole and the particular support of this federation.” Most of Mr AdamsSchneider’s address was taken up in dealing with timber imports and in explaining the effects of the free trade agreement.

A man may, if he knows lot how to save as he gets, keep his nose to the grindstone. Lord Chesterfield. “Letters.”